EP3348638B1

EP3348638B1 - Method for converting genome sequence of gram-positive bacterium by specifically converting nucleic acid base of targeted dna sequence, and molecular complex used in same

Info

Publication number: EP3348638B1
Application number: EP16844517.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masaharu Mukoyama; Eita Ichige; Keiji Nishida; Akihiko Kondo
Original assignee: Kobe University NUC
Current assignee: Kobe University NUC
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2016-09-09
Publication date: 2022-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2036-09-09
Also published as: CN108271384A; US10767173B2; JP6664693B2; BR112018004636A2; CN108271384B; HK1253544A1; JPWO2017043656A1; US20190203198A1; EP3348638A1; EP3348638A4; WO2017043656A1; ES2938623T3; DK3348638T3

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a modification method of a genome sequence, which enables modification of a nucleic acid base in a particular region of a genome of gram-positive bacterium belonging to the genus Clostridium, the genus Brevibacillus or the genus Corynebacterium, without cleaving double-stranded DNA (no cleavage or single strand cleavage), or inserting a foreign DNA fragment, using a complex of a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module, which is a CRISPR-Cas system comprising a mutant Cas in which both DNA cleavage abilities of Cas are inactivated, and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, which is Petromyzon marinus cytidine deaminase 1 (PmCDA1).

[Background Art]

Gram-positive bacterium is a generic name for bacteria that are stained in iron blue or purple by gram-staining and includes many useful bacteria such as lactobacillus, actinomycetes and the like utilized in traditional fermentation production and new biotechnology. Unlike gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and the like, they do not have an outer membrane. Thus, they have high secretional ability on proteins and the like. In addition, since they do not produce endotoxin, they are also suitable for the production of heterologous proteins. For this reason, many attempts have been made to further improve the properties of useful bacteria by modifying the genes of gram-positive bacteria.
For example, certain kinds of bacteria of the genus Clostridium (e.g., Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum etc.) have long been utilized as industrial butanol-fermenting bacteria. To improve butanol yield, studies are ongoing with the aim to reduce by-products (acetone, ethanol, organic acid and the like) by gene recombination.
Corynebacterium glutamicum has been used for more than 50 years as a bacterium for industrial production of amino acids, including glutamic acid and lysine, for food, feed or medicine. The production of glutamic acid can be increased by deficiency of the pknG gene that controls the activity of ODHC which catalyzes the conversion of 2-oxoglutaric acid to succinyl-CoA in the TCA cycle.
Furthermore, Brevibacillus choshinensis has reduced extracellular proteolytic activity and is used as a high secretion production system of heterologous proteins. The extracellular proteolytic activity can be further reduced by deleting the emp gene encoding the extracellular protease.
In genetic modification in conventional methods, however, since the object gene is degraded by inserting a foreign gene by homologous recombination and deleting the genome gene, the obtained microorganism falls under a gene recombinant microorganism. To secure safety, therefore, the facility costs and waste disposal costs become large, and the production costs become problematically high.
In recent years, genome editing is attracting attention as a technique for modifying the object gene and genome region in various species. Conventionally, as a method of genome editing, a method utilizing an artificial nuclease comprising a molecule having a sequence-independent DNA cleavage ability and a molecule having a sequence recognition ability in combination has been proposed (non-patent document 1).
For example, a method of performing recombination at a target gene locus in DNA in a plant cell or insect cell as a host, by using a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) wherein a zinc finger DNA binding domain and a non-specific DNA cleavage domain are linked (patent document 1), a method of cleaving or modifying a target gene in a particular nucleotide sequence or a site adjacent thereto by using TALEN wherein a transcription activator-like (TAL) effector which is a DNA binding module that the plant pathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas has, and a DNA endonuclease are linked (patent document 2), a method utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 system wherein DNA sequence CRISPR (Clustered Regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) that functions in an acquired immune system possessed by eubacterium and archaebacterium, and nuclease Cas (CRISPR-associated) protein family having an important function along with CRISPR are combined (patent document 3) and the like have been reported. Furthermore, a method of cleaving a target gene in the vicinity of a particular sequence, by using artificial nuclease wherein a PPR protein constituted to recognize a particular nucleotide sequence by a continuation of PPR motifs each consisting of 35 amino acids and recognizing one nucleic acid base, and nuclease are linked (patent document 4) has also been reported.
The genome editing techniques heretofore been proposed basically presuppose double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) by nuclease. This is because the genome editing technique is based on an idea that a foreign gene may be more easily inserted into the desired region if a particular region in the genome can be cleaved, which stems from the finding that DSB promotes homologous recombination.
However, since DSB includes unexpected genome modifications, side effects such as strong cytotoxicity, chromosomal rearrangement and the like occur, and it has problems of extremely small number of surviving cells and difficulty in genetic modification itself in unicellular microorganisms.
WO 2015/089406 A1 discloses a Cas variant for gene editing.
WO 2015/035136 A2 discloses systems for the supercharged protein- mediated delivery of functional effector proteins into cells in vivo, ex vivo, or in vitro.
Zeng Hu et al. (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 99, no. 24, 29 August 2015, pages 10575-10585) discloses highly efficient editing of the actinorhodin polyketide chain length factor gene in streptomyces coelicolor M145 using CRISPR/Cas9-CodA(sm) combined system.
Tao Xu et al. (Applied and Environmental Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, vol. 81, No. 13, 1 July 2015, pages 3324-4431) discloses efficient genome editing in Clostridium cellulolyticum via CRISPR-Cas9 nickase.
EP 3115457 A1 discloses a genomic sequence modification method for specifically converting nucleic acid bases of targeted DNA sequence, and molecular complex for use in same.
Shawn P. Finney-Manchester et al. (Nucleic Acids Research 7 March 2013, pages e99-e99) discloses harnessing mutagenic homologous recombination for targeted mutagenesis in vivo by TaGTEAM.
A. G. Lada et al. (Biochemistry, vol. 76, no. 1, 1 January 2011, pages 131-146) reports mutator effects and mutation signatures of editing deaminases produced in bacteria and yeast.
A. G. Lada et al. (Biology Direct, Biomed Central, vol. 7, no. 1, 18 December 2012, pages 47) reports that AID/APOBEC cytosine deaminase induces genome-wide kataegis.

[Document List]

[Patent documents]

patent document 1: JP-B-4968498
patent document 2: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2013-513389
patent document 3: National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2010-519929
patent document 4: JP-A-2013-128413

[non-patent document]

non-patent document 1: Kelvin M Esvelt, Harris H Wang (2013) Genome-scale engineering for systems and synthetic biology, Molecular Systems Biology 9: 641

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of genome editing for modifying a nucleic acid base of a particular sequence of a genome gene of gram-positive bacterium without DSB or insertion of foreign DNA fragment, i.e., by non-cleavage of a double stranded DNA or single strand cleavage, and without relying on the insertion of foreign DNA fragment or deletion of genome DNA fragment.

[Means of Solving the Problems]

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies in an attempt to solve the above-mentioned problems and took note of adopting base conversion by a conversion reaction of DNA base, without accompanying DSB and insertion and/or deletion of DNA fragment. The base conversion reaction by a deamination reaction of DNA base is already known; however, targeting any site by recognizing a particular sequence of DNA, and specifically modifying the targeted DNA by base conversion of DNA bases has not been realized yet.
Therefore, deaminase that catalyzes a deamination reaction was used as an enzyme for such conversion of nucleic acid bases, and a genome sequence was modified by nucleic acid base conversion in a region containing a particular DNA sequence of three kinds of gram-positive bacteria, by forming a complex of the enzyme and a molecule having a DNA sequence recognition ability (nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module).
To be specific, CRISPR-Cas system (CRISPR-mutant Cas) was used. That is, a DNA encoding a chimeric RNA molecule (guide RNA) wherein genome specific CRISPR-RNA:crRNA (gRNA) containing a sequence (targeting sequence) complementary to a target nucleotide sequence of a gene to be modified is linked to an RNA (trans-activating crRNA: tracrRNA) for recruiting Cas protein was produced, a DNA wherein a DNA encoding a mutant Cas protein (dCas) wherein cleavage ability of both strands of a double stranded DNA is inactivated and a deaminase gene are linked was produced, and these DNAs were introduced into gram-positive bacteria by using an expression vector functionable in each host cell. As a result, the desired base in the target nucleotide sequence could be successfully substituted by other base.
The present inventor have conducted further studies based on these findings and completed the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention is as described below.

[1] A method of modifying a targeted site in a double stranded DNA of a gram-positive bacterium, comprising a step of contacting a complex wherein a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module that specifically binds to a target nucleotide sequence in a given double stranded DNA and Petromyzon marinus cytidine deaminase 1 (PmCDA1) are bonded, with said double stranded DNA, to convert one or more nucleotides in the targeted site to other one or more nucleotides, without cleaving at least one strand of said double stranded DNA in the target site, wherein the double stranded DNA is contacted with the complex by introducing the nucleic acid encoding the complex into the gram-positive bacterium,
- wherein the gram-positive bacterium is a microorganism belonging to the genus Clostridium, the genus Brevibacillus or the genus Corynebacterium, and
- wherein the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module is a CRISPR-Cas system and wherein the Cas is a mutant Cas in which both DNA cleavage abilities of Cas are inactivated.
[2] The method of the above-mentioned [1], which uses two or more kinds of nucleic acid sequence-recognizing modules respectively specifically binding to different target nucleotide sequences.
[3] The method of the above-mentioned [2], wherein the aforementioned different target nucleotide sequence is present in a different gene.
[4] The method of any of the above-mentioned [1] to [3], wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Clostridium is Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum.
[5] The method of any of the above-mentioned [1] to [3], wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Brevibacillus is Brevibacillus chosinensis.
[6] The method of any of the above-mentioned [1] to [3], wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium is Corynebacterium glutamicum.
[7] The method of any of the above-mentioned [1] to [6], comprising a step of introducing an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding the aforementioned complex in a form permitting control of an expression period into the aforementioned gram-positive bacterium, and a step of inducing expression of the nucleic acid for a period necessary for fixing the modification of the targeted site in the double stranded DNA.
[8] The method of any of the above-mentioned [1] to [7], wherein the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module is fused with PmCDA1.

[Effect of the Invention]

According to the genome editing technique of the present invention, since it does not accompany insertion of a foreign DNA or double-stranded DNA breaks, the technique is superior in safety, and has no small possibility of affording a solution to cases causing biological or legal disputes on conventional methods as relating to gene recombination microorganism. For example, reduction of the facility costs and waste disposal cost can be expected in industrial fermentative production using gram-positive bacteria, and therefore, the technique is economically advantageous.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

Fig. 1 schematically shows the structure of a vector plasmid for disruption.

[Description of Embodiments]

The present invention provides a method of modifying a targeted site in a double stranded DNA of a gram-positive bacterium, comprising a step of contacting a complex wherein a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module that specifically binds to a target nucleotide sequence in a given double stranded DNA and Petromyzon marinus cytidine deaminase 1 (PmCDA1) are bonded, with said double stranded DNA, to convert one or more nucleotides in the targeted site to other one or more nucleotides, without cleaving at least one strand of said double stranded DNA in the target site, wherein the double stranded DNA is contacted with the complex by introducing the nucleic acid encoding the complex into the gram-positive bacterium, wherein the gram-positive bacterium is a microorganism belonging to the genus Clostridium, the genus Brevibacillus or the genus Corynebacterium, and wherein the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module is a CRISPR-Cas system and wherein the Cas is a mutant Cas in which both DNA cleavage abilities of Cas are inactivated (hereinafter sometimes to be also referred to as "the method of the present invention"). The method characteristically contains a step of contacting a complex wherein a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module that specifically binds to the target nucleotide sequence in the double stranded DNA and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme which is PmCDA1 are bonded with the double stranded DNA in the host gram-positive bacterium to convert the targeted site, i.e., the target nucleotide sequence and nucleotides in the vicinity thereof, to other nucleotides, or the like.
The gram-positive bacterium usable for the method of the present invention is bacteria belonging to the genus Clostridium, genus Brevibacillus, or genus Corynebacterium. Examples of the bacterium belonging to the genus Clostridium include Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum and the like, examples of the bacterium belonging to the genus Brevibacillus include Brevibacillus choshinensis and the like, and examples of the bacterium belonging to the genus Corynebacterium include Corynebacterium glutamicum and the like.
In the present invention, the "modification" of a double stranded DNA means that a nucleotide (e.g., dC) on a DNA strand is converted to other nucleotide (e.g., dT, dA or dG). While the double stranded DNA to be modified is not particularly limited as long as it is a double stranded DNA present in the host cell, it is preferably a genomic DNA. The "targeted site" of a double stranded DNA means the whole or partial "target nucleotide sequence", which a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module specifically recognizes and binds to, or the vicinity of the target nucleotide sequence (one or both of 5' upstream and 3' downstream). In addition, the "target nucleotide sequence" means a sequence to which a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module in the double stranded DNA binds.
In the present invention, the "nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module" is a CRISPR-Cas system. Binding of the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module to a target nucleotide sequence enables a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, i.e. PmCDA1, linked to the module to specifically act on a targeted site of a double stranded DNA.
In the present invention, the "nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex" means a molecular complex comprising a complex comprising the above-mentioned nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and nucleic acid base converting enzyme (PmCDA1) are connected, and having nucleic acid base converting enzyme activity and imparted with a particular nucleotide sequence recognition ability. The "complex" here encompasses not only one constituted of multiple molecules, but also one having a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme in a single molecule, like a fusion protein.
The nucleic acid base converting enzyme to be used in the method of the present invention is PmCDA1 derived from Petromyzon marinus (Petromyzon marinus cytidine deaminase 1).
A target nucleotide sequence in a double stranded DNA to be recognized by the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module in the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the module specifically binds to, and may be any sequence in the double stranded DNA. The length of the target nucleotide sequence only needs to be sufficient for specific binding of the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module. It is, for example, not less than 12 nucleotides, preferably not less than 15 nucleotides, more preferably not less than 18 nucleotides, according to the genome size of gram-positive bacterium. While the upper limit of the length is not particularly limited, it is preferably not more than 25 nucleotides, more preferably not more than 22 nucleotides.
As the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module in the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex, CRISPR-Cas system wherein both DNA cleavage abilities of Cas are inactivated (CRISPR-mutant Cas) is used in the method of the present invention.
In one aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, a zinc finger motif is constituted by linkage of 3 - 6 different Cys2His2 type zinc finger units (1 finger recognizes about 3 bases), and can recognize a target nucleotide sequence of 9 - 18 bases. In one aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, a zinc finger motif can be produced by a known method such as Modular assembly method (Nat Biotechnol (2002) 20: 135-141), OPEN method (Mol Cell (2008) 31: 294-301), CoDA method (Nat Methods (2011) 8: 67-69), Escherichia coli one-hybrid method (Nat Biotechnol (2008) 26:695-701) and the like. The above-mentioned patent document 1 can be referred to as for the detail of the zinc finger motif production.
In one aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, a TAL effector has a module repeat structure with about 34 amino acids as a unit, and the 12th and 13th amino acid residues (called RVD) of one module determine the binding stability and base specificity. In one aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, since each module is highly independent, TAL effector specific to a target nucleotide sequence can be produced by simply connecting the module. For TAL effector, a production method utilizing an open resource (REAL method (Curr Protoc Mol Biol (2012) Chapter 12: Unit 12.15), FLASH method (Nat Biotechnol (2012) 30: 460-465), and Golden Gate method (Nucleic Acids Res (2011) 39: e82) etc.) have been established, and a TAL effector for a target nucleotide sequence can be designed comparatively conveniently. The above-mentioned patent document 2 can be referred to as for the detail of the production of TAL effector.
In one aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, a PPR motif is constituted such that a particular nucleotide sequence is recognized by a continuation of PPR motifs each consisting of 35 amino acids and recognizing one nucleic acid base, and recognizes a target base only by 1, 4 and ii(-2) amino acids of each motif. In one aspect of the disclosure, motif constitution has no dependency, and is free of interference of motifs on both sides. Therefore, in one aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, like TAL effector, a PPR protein specific to the target nucleotide sequence can be produced by simply connecting PPR motifs. The above-mentioned patent document 4 can be referred to as for the detail of the production of PPR motif.
When a fragment of restriction enzyme, transcription factor, RNA polymerase and the like is used in some aspects as disclosed herein, but not part of the invention, since the DNA binding domains of these proteins are well known, a fragment containing the domain and free of a DNA double strand cleavage ability can be easily designed and constructed.
In another aspect of the disclosure, but not part of the invention, any of the above-mentioned nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module can be provided as a fusion protein with the above-mentioned nucleic acid base converting enzyme, or a protein binding domain such as SH3 domain, PDZ domain, GK domain, GB domain and the like and a binding partner thereof may be fused with a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, respectively, and provided as a protein complex via an interaction of the domain and a binding partner thereof. Alternatively, a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme may be each fused with intein, and they can be linked by ligation after protein synthesis.
The nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure, but not part of the invention, containing a complex (including fusion protein) wherein a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme are bonded may be contacted with a double stranded DNA by introducing a nucleic acid encoding the complex into gram-positive bacterium having the object double stranded DNA (e.g., genomic DNA).
Therefore, the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and the nucleic acid base converting enzyme are prepared as a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein thereof, or in a form capable of forming a complex in a host cell after translation into a protein by utilizing a binding domain, intein and the like, or as a nucleic acid encoding each of them. The nucleic acid here may be a DNA or an RNA. When it is a DNA, it is preferably a double stranded DNA, and provided in the form of an expression vector disposed under regulation of a functional promoter in a host cell. When it is an RNA, it is preferably a single strand RNA.
Since the complex of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, wherein a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme are bonded does not accompany double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB), genome editing with low toxicity is possible, and the genetic modification method of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, can be applied to a wide range of gram-positive bacteria in general.
A DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module for the method as disclosed herein such as zinc finger motif, TAL effector, PPR motif and the like can be obtained by any method mentioned above for each module. A DNA encoding a sequence-recognizing module of restriction enzyme, transcription factor, RNA polymerase and the like as disclosed herein, but not part of the invention, can be cloned by, for example, synthesizing an oligoDNA primer covering a region encoding a desired part of the protein (part containing DNA binding domain) based on the cDNA sequence information thereof, and amplifying by the RT-PCR method using, as a template, the total RNA or mRNA fraction prepared from the protein-producing cells.
A DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can also be cloned similarly by synthesizing an oligoDNA primer based on the cDNA sequence information thereof, and amplifying by the RT-PCR method using, as a template, the total RNA or mRNA fraction prepared from the enzyme-producing cells. For example, a DNA encoding PmCDA1 of Petromyzon marinus can be cloned by designing suitable primers for the upstream and downstream of CDS based on the cDNA sequence (accession No. EF094822) registered in the NCBI database, and cloning from Petromyzon marinus-derived mRNA by the RT-PCR method.
The cloned DNA may be directly, or after digestion with a restriction enzyme when desired, or after addition of a suitable linker, ligated with a DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module to prepare a DNA encoding a fusion protein. Alternatively, a DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module, and a DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme may be each fused with a DNA encoding a binding domain or a binding partner thereof, or both DNAs may be fused with a DNA encoding a separation intein, whereby the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing conversion module and the nucleic acid base converting enzyme are translated in a host cell to form a complex. In these cases, a linker can be linked to a suitable position of one of or both DNAs when desired.
A DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be obtained by chemically synthesizing the DNA strand, or by connecting synthesized partly overlapping oligoDNA short strands by utilizing the PCR method and the Gibson Assembly method to construct a DNA encoding the full length thereof. The advantage of constructing a full-length DNA by chemical synthesis or a combination of PCR method or Gibson Assembly method is that the codon to be used can be designed in CDS full-length according to the host into which the DNA is introduced. In the expression of a heterologous DNA, the protein expression level is expected to increase by converting the DNA sequence thereof to a codon highly frequently used in the host organism. As the data of codon use frequency in host to be used, for example, the genetic code use frequency database (http://www.kazusa.or.jp/codon/index.html) disclosed in the home page of Kazusa DNA Research Institute can be used, or documents showing the codon use frequency in each host may be referred to. By reference to the obtained data and the DNA sequence to be introduced, codons showing low use frequency in the host from among those used for the DNA sequence may be converted to a codon coding the same amino acid and showing high use frequency.
An expression vector containing a DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be produced, for example, by linking the DNA to the downstream of a promoter in a suitable expression vector.
For example, as a vector replicatable in the genus Clostridium, a shuttle vector of Escherichia coli and the genus Clostridium is convenient. For example, pKNT19 derived from pIM13 (Journal of General Microbiology, 138, 1371-1378 (1992)), pJIR756 and pNAK1 can be mentioned. In addition, as a vector replicatable in the genus Brevibacillus, pUB110 derived from Brevibacillus brevis can be mentioned and as a vector replicatable in the genus Corynebacterium, pCG100-pHSG398 hybrid plasmid derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum can be mentioned. Furthermore, as a vector replicatable in the genus Lactobacillus, pLAB1000 derived from Lactobacillus lactis and the like can be mentioned.
As the promoter, any promoter appropriate for a host to be used for gene expression can be used. In a conventional method using DSB, since the survival rate of the host cell sometimes decreases markedly due to the toxicity, it is desirable to increase the number of cells by the start of the induction by using an inductive promoter. However, since sufficient cell proliferation can also be afforded by expressing the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present invention, a constitution promoter can also be used without limitation.
The expression vector can contained, when desired, a terminator, a repressor, a selection marker such as drug resistance gene, auxotrophic complementary gene and the like, replication origin functionable in Escherichia coli etc., and the like.
An RNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be prepared by, for example, transcription to mRNA in a vitro transcription system known per se by using a vector encoding DNA encoding the above-mentioned nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme as a template.
A complex of a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be intracellularly expressed by introducing an expression vector containing a DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme into a host cell, and culturing the host cell.
An expression vector can be introduced by a known method (e.g., lysozyme method, competent method, PEG method, CaCl₂ coprecipitation method, electroporation method, the microinjection method, the particle gun method, lipofection method, Agrobacterium method and the like) according to the kind of the host.
A gram-positive bacterium introduced with a vector can be cultured according to a known method according to the kind thereof. A liquid medium is preferable as a medium to be used for the culture. The medium preferably contains a carbon source, nitrogen source, inorganic substance and the like necessary for the growth of the transformant. Examples of the carbon source include glucose, dextrin, soluble starch, sucrose and the like; examples of the nitrogen source include inorganic or organic substances such as ammonium salts, nitrate salts, corn steep liquor, peptone, casein, meat extract, soybean cake, potato extract and the like; and examples of the inorganic substance include calcium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium chloride and the like. The medium may contain yeast extract, vitamins, growth promoting factor and the like. The pH of the medium is preferably about 5 - about 8.
Gram-positive bacteria are cultured generally at about 30 - about 40°C. Where necessary, aeration and stirring may also be performed.
As mentioned above, a complex of a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, i.e., nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex, can be expressed intracellularly.
An RNA encoding the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and/or nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be introduced into gram-positive bacterium by a method known per se. The introduction of RNA can be performed once or repeated multiple times (e.g., 2 - 5 times) at suitable intervals.
When a complex of a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme is expressed by an expression vector or RNA molecule introduced into the cell, the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module specifically recognizes and binds to a target nucleotide sequence in the double stranded DNA (e.g., genomic DNA) of interest and, due to the action of the nucleic acid base converting enzyme linked to the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module, base conversion occurs in the sense strand or antisense strand of the targeted site (whole or partial target nucleotide sequence or the vicinity thereof) and a mismatch occurs in the double stranded DNA (e.g., when cytidine deaminase such as PmCDA1, AID and the like is used as a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, cytosine on the sense strand or antisense strand at the targeted site is converted to uracil to cause U:G or G:U mismatch). When the mismatch is not correctly repaired, and when repaired such that a base of the opposite strand forms a pair with a base of the converted strand (T-A or A-T in the above-mentioned example), or when other nucleotide is further substituted (e.g., U→A, G) or when one to several dozen bases are deleted or inserted during repair, various mutations are introduced.
As for zinc finger motif, production of many actually functionable zinc finger motifs is not easy, since production efficiency of a zinc finger that specifically binds to a target nucleotide sequence is not high and selection of a zinc finger having high binding specificity is complicated. While TAL effector and PPR motif have a high degree of freedom of target nucleic acid sequence recognition as compared to zinc finger motif, a problem remains in the efficiency since a large protein needs to be designed and constructed every time according to the target nucleotide sequence.
In contrast, since the CRISPR-Cas system recognizes the object double stranded DNA sequence by a guide RNA complementary to the target nucleotide sequence, any sequence can be targeted by simply synthesizing an oligoDNA capable of specifically forming a hybrid with the target nucleotide sequence.
Therefore, in the present invention, a CRISPR-Cas system wherein both DNA cleavage abilities of Cas are inactivated (CRISPR-mutant Cas) is used as a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module.
The nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, using CRISPR-mutant Cas is provided as a complex of a chimeric RNA (guide RNA) consisting of a CRISPR-RNA (crRNA) comprising a sequence complementary to the target nucleotide sequence and trans-activating RNA (tracrRNA) necessary for recruiting mutant Cas protein, and a mutant Cas protein.
The Cas protein of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, is not particularly limited as long as it forms a complex with guide RNA and can recognize and bind to the target nucleotide sequence in the object gene and a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) adjacent thereto. As a mutant Cas to be used in the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, any of Cas wherein the cleavage ability of the both strands of the double stranded DNA is inactivated is used. It is preferably Cas9. Examples of Cas9 include, but are not limited to, Cas9 (SpCas9) derived from Streptococcus pyogenes; PAM sequence NGG (N is A, G, T or C, hereinafter the same)), Cas9 (StCas9; PAM sequence NNAGAAW) derived from Streptococcus thermophilus, Cas9 (MmCas9; PAM sequence NNNNGATT) derived from Neisseria meningitidis and the like. Preferred is SpCas9 with less restriction by PAM (substantially 2 bases, and can target theoretically any site on the genome). For example, in the case of SpCas9, a D10A mutant wherein the 10th Asp residue is converted to an Ala residue and lacking cleavage ability of a strand opposite to the strand forming a complementary strand with a guide RNA, or H840A mutant wherein the 840th His residue is converted to an Ala residue and lacking cleavage ability of strand complementary to guide RNA, or a double mutant thereof can be used, and other mutant Cas can be used similarly.
The nucleic acid base converting enzyme is provided as a complex with mutant Cas by a method similar to the coupling scheme with the above-mentioned zinc finger and the like. Alternatively, a nucleic acid base converting enzyme and mutant Cas can also be bound by utilizing RNA aptamers MS2F6, PP7 and the like and RNA scaffold by binding proteins thereto. The targeting sequence in the guide RNA forms a complementary strand with the target nucleotide sequence, mutant Cas is recruited by the tracrRNA attached and mutant Cas recognizes PAM. One or both DNAs cannot be cleaved and, due to the action of the nucleic acid base converting enzyme linked to the mutant Cas, base conversion occurs in the targeted site (appropriately adjusted within several hundred bases including whole or partial target nucleotide sequence) and a mismatch occurs in the double stranded DNA. When the mismatch is not correctly repaired, and when repaired such that a base of the opposite strand forms a pair with a base of the converted strand, or when other nucleotide is further converted or when one to several dozen bases are deleted or inserted during repair, various mutations are introduced.
Even when CRISPR-mutant Cas is used as a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module, a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme are desirably introduced, in the form of a nucleic acid encoding same, into gram-positive bacterium having a double stranded DNA of interest, similar to when zinc finger and the like are used as a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module.
A DNA encoding Cas can be cloned by a method similar to the above-mentioned method for a DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, from a cell producing the enzyme. A mutant Cas can be obtained by introducing a mutation to convert an amino acid residue of the part important for the DNA cleavage activity (e.g., 10th Asp residue and 840th His residue for Cas9, though not limited thereto) to other amino acid, into a DNA encoding cloned Cas, by a site specific mutation induction method known per se.
Alternatively, a DNA encoding mutant Cas can also be constructed as a DNA showing codon usage suitable for expression in a host cell to be used, by a method similar to those mentioned above for a DNA encoding a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, and by a combination of chemical synthesis or PCR method or Gibson Assembly method.
A DNA encoding a mutant Cas and a DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme may be linked to allow for expression as a fusion protein, or designed to be separately expressed using a binding domain, intein and the like, and form a complex in a host cell via protein-protein interaction and protein ligation.
The obtained DNA encoding a mutant Cas and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be inserted into the downstream of a promoter of an expression vector similar to the one mentioned above, according to the host.
On the other hand, a DNA encoding a guide RNA can be chemically synthesized by designing an oligoDNA sequence in which a crRNA sequence containing a nucleotide sequence (also referred to as "targeting sequence") complementary to a "targeted strand" of the target nucleotide sequence, and a known tracrRNA sequence (e.g., gttttagagctagaaatagcaagttaaaataaggctagtccgttatcaacttgaaaaagtggc accgagtcggtggtgctttt; SEQ ID NO: 1) are linked, and using a DNA/RNA synthesizer.
The "targeted strand" here means a strand forming a hybrid with crRNA of the target nucleotide sequence, and an opposite strand thereof that becomes single-stranded by hybridization to the targeted strand and crRNA is referred to as a "non-targeted strand". Since the nucleic acid base conversion reaction is generally assumed to frequently occur on a single stranded non-targeted strand, when the target nucleotide sequence is to be expressed by one of the strands (e.g., when PAM sequence is indicated, when positional relationship of target nucleotide sequence and PAM is shown etc.), it is represented by a sequence of the non-targeted strand.
While the length of the targeting sequence is not particularly limited as long as it can specifically bind to a target nucleotide sequence, for example, it is 15 - 30 nucleotides, preferably 18 - 25 nucleotides. The selection of the target nucleotide sequence is restricted by the presence of an adjacent PAM on the 3'-side of the sequence. According to the system of the present invention in which CRISPR-mutated Cas and PmCDA1 are combined, mutation is easily introduced into C at a position within 7 nucleotides from the 5'-end thereof irrespective of the length of the target nucleotide sequence. Therefore, by appropriately determining the length of the target nucleotide sequence (targeting sequence as a complementary strand thereof), the site of a base into which a mutation can be introduced can be shifted. As a result, restriction by PAM (NGG in SpCas9) can be removed at least partially, and the degree of freedom of mutation introduction becomes higher.
A targeting sequence can be designed, for example, using a guide RNA design website open to public (CRISPR Design Tool, CRISPRdirect etc.) by listing up 20 mer sequences having PAM (e.g., NGG) adjacent to the 3'-side from the CDS sequences of the object gene, and selecting a sequence that causes an amino acid change in the protein encoded by the target gene when C within 7 nucleotides from the 5' end is converted to T. Furthermore, a sequence having C that similarly causes, when the length of the targeting sequence is changed, for example, within the range of 18 - 25 nucleotides, an amino acid change by base conversion to T within 7 nucleotides from the 5' end thereof is selected. A candidate sequence having a small number of off-target sites in the object gram-positive bacterial genome can be used as a targeting sequence. CRISPR Design Tool and CRISPRdirect currently do not have a function to search off-target sites of gram-positive bacteria. Off-target sites can be searched by applying a Blast search to the genome of the gram-positive bacterium serving as a host, for example, 8 - 12 nucleotides on the 3'-side of the candidate sequence (seed sequence with high discrimination ability of target nucleotide sequence).
While a DNA encoding guide RNA can also be inserted into an expression vector similar to the one mentioned above, according to the host. As the promoter, pol III system promoter (e.g., SNR6, SNR52, SCR1, RPR1, U6, H1 promoter etc.) and terminator (e.g., T₆ sequence) are preferably used. When a pol III system promoter is used, a nucleotide sequence having four or more consecutive T's should not be selected as a targeting sequence.
An RNA encoding mutant Cas and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be prepared by, for example, transcription to mRNA in a vitro transcription system known per se by using a vector encoding the above-mentioned mutant Cas and/or DNA encoding a nucleic acid base converting enzyme as a template.
Guide RNA (crRNA-tracrRNA) can be obtained by designing an oligoDNA sequence linking a sequence complementary to the targeted strand of the target nucleotide sequence and known tracrRNA sequence and chemically synthesizing using a DNA/RNA synthesizer.
A DNA or RNA encoding mutant Cas and/or a nucleic acid base converting enzyme, guide RNA (crRNA-tracrRNA) or a DNA encoding same can be introduced into a gram-positive bacterium by a method similar to the above, according to the host.
Since conventional artificial nuclease accompanies Double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB), inhibition of growth and cell death assumedly caused by disordered cleavage of chromosome (off-target cleavage) occur by targeting a sequence in the genome. The effect thereof is particularly fatal for many microorganisms and prokaryotes, and prevents applicability. In the present invention, mutation is introduced not by DNA cleavage but by a conversion reaction of the substituent on the DNA base (particularly deamination reaction), and therefore, drastic reduction of toxicity can be realized.
The modification of the double stranded DNA in the present invention does not prevent occurrence of cleavage of the double stranded DNA in a site other than the targeted site (appropriately adjusted within several hundred bases including whole or partial target nucleotide sequence). However, one of the greatest advantages of the present invention is avoidance of toxicity by off-target cleavage, which is generally applicable to any species. In preferable one embodiment, therefore, the modification of the double stranded DNA in the present invention does not accompany cleavage of DNA strand not only in a targeted site of a given double stranded DNA but in a site other than same.
In the below-mentioned Examples, double mutant Cas9 is used, and the present inventors found that when other microorganism such as budding yeast, Escherichia coli and the like is used as a host and Cas having a nickase activity capable of cleaving only one of the strands of the double stranded DNA is used as a mutant Cas, the mutation introduction efficiency increases as compared to mutant Cas incapable of cleaving both strands. Therefore, for example, when a protein having a nickase activity is further linked in addition to a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme and only a DNA single strand is cleaved in the vicinity of the target nucleotide sequence, the mutation introduction efficiency can be improved while avoiding the strong toxicity of DSB. Furthermore, a comparison of the effects of mutant Cas having two kinds of nickase activity of cleaving different strand confirmed mutated sites gathering near the center of the target nucleotide sequence in one of them and various mutations randomly introduced into region of several hundred bases from the target nucleotide sequence in the other. Therefore, as disclosed herrein, but not part of the invention, by selecting a strand to be cleaved by the nickase, a mutation can be introduced into a particular nucleotide or nucleotide region of the double stranded DNA of gram-positive bacterium at a pinpoint, or various mutations can be randomly introduced into a comparatively wide range, which can be property adopted according to the object.
The present inventors also confirmed using a budding yeast that when sequence-recognizing modules are produced corresponding to the adjacent multiple target nucleotide sequences, and simultaneously used, the mutation introduction efficiency drastically increases than using a single nucleotide sequence as a target. As the effect thereof, similarly mutation induction is realized even when both target nucleotide sequences partly overlap or when the both are apart by about 600 bp. It can occur both when the target nucleotide sequences are in the same direction (targeted strand is the same strand), and when they are opposed (both strands of double stranded DNA are targeted strands).
The present inventors also confirmed using a budding yeast that the genome sequence modification method of the present invention can introduce mutation into almost all cells in which the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the disclosure, which is not part of the invention, has been expressed, by selecting a suitable target nucleotide sequence. Thus, insertion and selection of a selection marker gene, which are essential in the conventional genome editing, are not necessary. This dramatically facilitates and simplifies gene manipulation and enlarges the applicability to molecule breeding of useful microorganism and the like since a recombinant microorganism with foreign DNA is not produced.
Since the genome sequence modification method of the present invention shows extremely high mutation introduction efficiency, and does not require selection by markers, modification of multiple DNA regions at completely different positions as targets can be performed. Therefore, in one preferable embodiment of the disclosure, which is not part of the invention, two or more kinds of nucleic acid sequence-recognizing modules that specifically bind to different target nucleotide sequences (which may be present in one object gene, or two or more different object genes) can be used. In this case, each one of these nucleic acid sequence-recognizing modules and nucleic acid base converting enzyme form a nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex. Here, a common nucleic acid base converting enzyme can be used. For example, when CRISPR-Cas system is used as a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module, a common complex (including fusion protein) of a Cas protein and a nucleic acid base converting enzyme is used, and two or more kinds of chimeric RNAs of tracrRNA and each of two or more crRNAs that respectively form a complementary strand with a different target nucleotide sequence are produced and used as guide RNA (crRNA-tracrRNA). On the other hand, when zinc finger motif, TAL effector and the like are used as nucleic acid sequence-recognizing modules of the disclosure, which is not part of the invention, for example, a nucleic acid base converting enzyme of the disclosure, which is not part of the invention, can be fused with a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module that specifically binds to a different target nucleotide.
To express the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure in a host cell, as mentioned above, an expression vector containing a DNA encoding the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex, or an RNA encoding the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex is introduced into gram-positive bacterium. For efficient introduction of mutation, it is desirable to maintain an expression of nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of a given level or above for not less than a given period. From such aspect, it is ensuring to introduce an expression vector (plasmid etc.) autonomously replicatable in a host cell. However, since the plasmid etc. are foreign DNAs, they are preferably removed rapidly after successful introduction of mutation. Alternatively, when multiple target genes are to be successively modified and when usable one or more plasmids are incompatible, the previously introduced plasmid needs to be removed before introduction of the plasmid at a later stage. Therefore, though subject to change depending on the kind of host cell and the like, for example, the introduced plasmid is desirably removed from the host cell after a lapse of 6 hr - 2 days from the introduction of an expression vector by using various plasmid removal methods well known in the art.
Alternatively, as long as expression of a nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex, which is sufficient for the introduction of mutation, is obtained, it is preferable to introduce mutation into the object double stranded DNA by transient expression by using an expression vector without autonomous replicatability in a host cell (e.g., vector etc. lacking replication origin that functions in host cell and/or gene encoding protein necessary for replication) or RNA.
Expression of target gene is suppressed while the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, is expressed in gram-positive bacterium to perform a nucleic acid base conversion reaction. Therefore, it was difficult to directly edit a gene essential for the survival of the host cell as a target gene (due to side effects such as growth inhibition of host, unstable mutation introduction efficiency, mutation of site different from target and the like). In the present invention, direct editing of an essential gene can be realized efficiently by causing a nucleic acid base conversion reaction in a desired stage, and transiently expressing the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, in a host cell for a period necessary for fixing the modification of the targeted site. While a period necessary for a nucleic acid base conversion reaction and fixing the modification of the targeted site varies depending on the kind of the host cell, culture conditions and the like, 2 - 20 generations are generally considered to be necessary. Those of ordinary skill in the art can appropriately determine a preferable expression induction period based on the doubling time of the host cell under culture conditions to be used. The expression induction period of the a nucleic acid encoding the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present invention may be extended beyond the above-mentioned "period necessary for fixing the modification of the targeted site" as long as the host cell is free of side effects.
As a means for transiently expressing the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, at a desired stage for a desired period, a method including producing a construct (expression vector) containing a nucleic acid (a DNA encoding a guide RNA and a DNA encoding a mutant Cas and nucleic acid base converting enzyme in the CRISPR-Cas system) encoding the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex, in a form capable of controlling the expression period, introducing the construct into gram-positive bacterium can be mentioned. The "form capable of controlling the expression period" is specifically, for example, a nucleic acid encoding the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present invention placed under regulation of an inducible regulatory region. While the "inducible regulatory region" is not particularly limited, it is, for example, an operon of a temperature sensitive (ts) mutation repressor and an operator regulated thereby. Examples of the ts mutation repressor include, but are not limited to, ts mutation of λphage-derived cI repressor. In the case of λphage cI repressor (ts), it is bound to an operator to suppress expression of gene in the downstream at not more than 30°C (e.g., 28°C). At a high temperature of not less than 37°C (e.g., 42°C), it is dissociated from the operator to allow for induction of gene expression. Therefore, the period when the expression of the target gene is suppressed can be minimized by culturing a host cell introduced with a nucleic acid encoding nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex generally at not more than 30°C, raising the temperature to not less than 37°C at an appropriate stage, performing culture for a given period to carry out a nucleic acid base conversion reaction and, after introduction of mutation into the target gene, rapidly lowering the temperature to not more than 30°C. Thus, even when an essential gene for the host cell is targeted, it can be efficiently edited while suppressing the side effects.
When temperature sensitive mutation is utilized, for example, a temperature sensitive mutant of a protein necessary for autonomous replication of a vector is mounted on a vector containing a DNA encoding the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure, but which is not part of the invention As a result, autonomous replication cannot occur rapidly after expression of the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex, and the vector naturally falls off along with the cell division. Therefore, a combined use with cI repressor (ts) of the above-mentioned λphage simultaneously enables transient expression of the nucleic acid-modifying enzyme complex of the present disclosure, which is not part of the invention, and removal of the plasmid.
The present invention is explained in the following by referring to Examples, which are not to be construed as limitative.

[Examples]

Example 1 Genetic modification of Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum

(1) Construction of vector plasmid for disruption - introduction of modification CRISPR into pKNT19

A vector plasmid for disruption was constructed by inserting the following necessary gene sequence between the cleavage sites of the restriction enzymes BamHI and KpnI of plasmid pKNT19 replicatable in Escherichia coli and microorganisms of the genus Clostridium.
Amino acid mutation of D10A and H840A was introduced into Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 gene containing bidirectional promoter region to give dCas9, and a construct to be expressed as a fusion protein with PmCDA1 was constructed via a linker sequence and, additionally, chimeric gRNA encoding a sequence (targeting sequence) complementary to the target nucleotide sequence of pta genes (SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 3) of C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum was mounted together therewith on a plasmid (full-length nucleotide sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 and each targeting sequence is inserted into the site of n₂₀ (nucleotide Nos. 5560-5579) in the sequence) (Fig. 1).

(2) Introduction of vector plasmid for disruption into C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum

Of the vector plasmids for disruption produced in the above-mentioned (1), 11757 or 1269+AatII was used to transform C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum ATCC27021 strain and ATCC27021Δptb1 strain (see Example 1 of JP-A-2014-207885 ). The targeting sequences and the like of the vector plasmid for disruption 11757, 1269+AatII are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Outline of vector plasmids for disruption 11757, 1269+AatII
vector for disruption	targeting sequence ^a) (bold underline shows introduction site of mutation)	position of target nucleotide sequence in pta gene	main position of mutation introduction
11757	c t c ttgataaatcatttat (5)	916-934 of pta^b)	932G>A, 934G>A
1269+AatII	gctg cc catatttttttcata (6)	9-29 of pta	24G>A, 25G>A

a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.
b) see SEQ ID NO: 2 for nucleotide sequence of pta gene

Method

As a preculture, a glycerol stock (0.5 mL) of C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum ATCC 27021 strain or ATCC 27021Δptb1 strain was inoculated to TYA medium (5 mL), and the cells were cultured at 30°C for 24 hr. The composition of the TYA medium is shown in Table 2. Table 2

TYA medium composition

glucose 40 g

yeast extract 2 g

tryptone • peptone 6 g

CH₃COONH₄ 3 g

KH₂PO₄ 0.5 g

MgSO₄ ▪ 7H₂O 0.3 g

FeSO₄ ▪ 7H₂O 0.01 g

distilled water 1 L
The preculture medium was inoculated to TYA medium (10 mL) at OD=0.1 and incubated in a 15 mL-falcon tube at 37°C. At OD=0.6, the fermentation solution was centrifuged, the supernatant was removed, ice-cooled 65 mM MOPS buffer (pH 6.5) (10 mL) was added, and the mixture was resuspended by pipetting and centrifuged. Washing with MOPS buffer was repeated twice. MOPS buffer was removed by centrifugation and bacteria pellets were resuspended in ice-cooled 0.3 M sucrose (100 µL) to give a competent cell. The competent cell (50 µL) was charged in an Eppendorf tube and mixed with the plasmid (1 µg). It was placed in an ice-cooled cell for electroporation and the cell was impressed at Exponential dcay mode, 2.5 kV/cm, 25 µF, 350 Ω. The electroporation apparatus used was Gene pulser xcell (Bio-rad). Thereafter, the total amount was inoculated to 5 mL of TYA medium and recovery cultured at 30°C for about 2 hr. Thereafter, the recovered culture medium was applied on an MASS solid medium containing erythromycin (10 ppm), cultured at 30°C for several days, culture was selected from the emerged colonies, and an erythromycin resistant strain introduced with the plasmid was obtained. Then, it was confirmed that the plasmid was maintained in the obtained strain. Four colonies each were inoculated in a TYA medium containing erythromycin (10 ppm), a region peculiar to the plasmid was amplified by PCR using a culture medium derived from the grown transformant colony as the template, the amplified product was analyzed by electrophoresis, and the presence or absence of plasmid retention was confirmed.

Results

All amplified products of the region peculiar to the plasmid were obtained. Therefore, it was clarified that a vector plasmid for disruption was maintained in the butanol fermentation bacteria.

(3) C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum pta gene sequence conversion using vector plasmid for disruption

Using the vector plasmid for disruption, the DNA sequence of the pta gene of butanol fermentation bacteria was converted. Since vector plasmid for disruption does not have a control mechanism in the destructive tool, it functions by simply forming generations.

Method

The 11757/ATCC 27021Δptb1 strain as a 11757-carrying strain, 1269+AatII/ATCC 27021Δptb1 and 1269+AatII/ATCC 27021 strains as 1269+AatII-carrying strain, produced in the above-mentioned (2), were inoculated and cultured in TYA medium containing erythromycin (10 ppm), and dilution applied to TYA solid medium containing erythromycin (10 ppm) to give a single colony. The single colonies (8 colonies) were picked from 11757/ATCC 27021Δptb1 strain and 1269+AatII/ATCC 27021 strain and 16 colonies were taken from 1269+AatII/ATCC 27021Δptb1 and, using them as the templates, the full-length pta gene on the genome was amplified.

PCR composition (in one sample)
2×KODFX buffer 25 µL
2 mM dNTPS 10 µL
20 µM F primer 0.75 µL (NS-150414-i02)
20 µM R primer 0.75 µL (NS-150304-i04)
D.W. 11.5 µL
KODFX 1 µL

sequence of NS-150414-i02 5'-GCCCTTTATGAAAGGGATTATATTCAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 7)
sequence of NS-150304-i04 5'-GCTTGTACAGCAGTTAATGCAAC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 8)

49 µL each was dispensed, a single colony suspension (1 µL) was added as the template, and PCR was performed under the following conditions.

94°C 2 min
98°C 10 sec → 50°C 30 sec → 68°C 2 min × 30 cycles
10°C hold

Then, the PCR product was purified by Wizard (registered trade mark) SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System, and a sequence reaction was performed using the purified product as the template.

sequence reaction composition (for one sample)
Terminator Ready Reaction Mix 1 µL
5×Sequencing buffer 3.5 µL
3.2 pmol primer 1 µL
Template DNA 0.35 µL
D.W. 14.15 µL

Template DNA and the primer were combined as follows.

1269+AatII-carrying strain
F side NS-150414-i02/R side NS-150304-i04
11753-carrying strain
F side NS-150525-i01/R side NS-150304-i04

sequence of NS-150525-i01 5'-GGTGTTACAGGAAATGTTGCAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 9)
PCR of the above-mentioned composition was performed under the following conditions.

96°C 1 min
96°C 10 sec → 50°C 5 sec → 60°C 4 min × 25 cycles 10°C hold

After completion of the reaction, the sequence of the reaction product was analyzed by a DNA sequencer ABI PRISM3101.

Results

In the sequence analysis results of a colony derived from 11757/ATCC27021Δptb1, the 916 - 935th DNA sequence of the pta gene is shown in Table 3.

Table 3

sequence analysis results of colony derived from 11757/ATCC27021Δptb1
sample	sequence ^a) bold underline shows introduction site of mutation	position of mutation
original sequence	ataaatgatttatcaagagg (10)	-	-	-
#1	ataaatgatttatcaa a agg (11)	c.932G>A	-	-
#2	ataaatgatttatcaa a agg (11)	c.932G>A	-	-
#3	ataaatgatttatcaaga a g (12)	-	c.934G>A	-
#4	ataaatgatttatcaa a agg (11)	c.932G>A	-	-
#5	ataaatgatttatcaa a agg (11)	c.932G>A	-	-
#6	ataaatgatttatcaa a a aa (13)	c.932G>A	c.934G>A	c.935G>A
#7	ataaatgatttatcaa a agg (11)	c.932G>A	-	-
#8	ataaatgatttatcaa a agg (11)	c.932G>A	-	-

a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.

As a result, some mutation was introduced into all 8 strain whose sequences could be analyzed. From these results, it was confirmed that vector plasmid 11757 functions as a destructive tool plasmid for Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum. As the position of mutation introduction, 6 strains were c.932G>A (932nd base G of pta gene was modified to A) mutation strains, 1 strain was c.934G>A, and 1 strain was c.932G>A, c.934G>A and c.935G>A mutation strain. By the mutation introduction of c.932G>A, the 311th amino acid arginine (encoded by AGA) of the PTA protein becomes lysine (encoded by AAA) and similarly becomes G312K by the mutation of c.934G>A and c.935G>A. Particularly, R311 is assumed to be activity center of PTA, and a drastic decrease in the enzyme activity by the mutation of c.932G>A was expected.

In the sequence analysis results of the colonies derived from 1269+AatII/ATCC27021 and 1269+AatII/ATCC27021Δptb1, the results of the 6 - 30th DNA sequence of the pta gene are respectively shown in Tables 4 and 5.

[Table 4]

sequence analysis results of colony derived from 1269+AatII/ATCC27021
sample	sequence ^a) bold underline shows introduction site of mutation	position of mutation
original sequence	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgggcagca (14)
#1	caaaaaaaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A
#2	ctataaaaaaaaaatctttagataa (14)	-	-
#3	ccttatgaaaaaaatatg aa cagca (16)	c.24G>A	c.25G>A
#4	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A
#5	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#6	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#7	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A
#8	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A

a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.

[Table 5]

sequence analysis results of colony derived from 1269+AatII/ATCC27021Δptb1
sample	sequence ^a) bold underline shows introduction site of mutation	position of mutation
original sequence	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgggcagca (14)
#1	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A
#2	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#3	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#4	ccttatgaaaaaaatatg aa cagca (16)	c.24G>A	c.25G>A
#5	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#6	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#7	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#8	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#9	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#10	analysis not possible
#11	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A
#12	analysis not possible
#13	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#14	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a cagca (17)	c.25G>A
#15	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A
#16	ccttatgaaaaaaatatgg a ca a ca (15)	c.25G>A	c.28G>A

a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.

Some mutation was introduced into all 21 strains out of 22 strains whose sequences could be analyzed. From these results, it was confirmed that 1269+AatII functions as a destructive tool plasmid for Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum. As the position of mutation introduction, the 25th G of the pta gene was changed to A in all strains with mutation introduction, and multiple strains had mutation of c.24G>A or c.28G>A. By the mutation introduction of c.24G>A, the 8th amino acid tryptophan (encoded by UGG) of the PTA protein changed to a stop codon (encoded by UGA), and the function is expected to be lost here since the protein synthesis is discontinued.

Example 2 Genetic modification of Corynebacterium glutamicum (1) Production of shuttle vector

A pCG100 plasmid derived from C. glutamicum ATCC13058 strain was obtained according to the method described in Example 1 of WO 2007/013695 .
For ligation with pHSG398, pCG100 was digested with restriction enzyme BgIII, and pHSG398 was digested with BamHI and dephosphorylated to prevent self ligation. pCG100 (digested with BglII) and pHSG398 (digested with BamHI) were ligated and introduced into Escherichia coli.

(2) Production of pknG gene modification plasmid

PstI site was added to the both terminals of the DNA fragment (about 6 kbp HindIII-XhoI fragment of SEQ ID NO: 18) of modification CRISPR and inserted into the pCG100-pHSG398 plasmid at the site of cleavage with PstI to produce a modification CRISPR plasmid that functions in C. glutamicum. The targeting sequences (Table 6) for modification of the pknG gene (SEQ ID NO: 19 and 20) of C. glutamicum were designed, and Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 10 therefrom were inserted into the targeting sequence insertion site (n₂₀) (8773-8492nd nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 18) of the modification CRISPR plasmid to give pknG gene modification plasmids.

[Table 6]

No.	20 base targeting sequence ^a)	change on genome c (bold, underlined) changes to t ^a)	base change	amino acid change
1	gcgagccacccaaggtcaaa (21)	g c gagccacccaaggtcaaa tgg (22)	c196t	R66X
2	cacccaaggtcaaatggtgg (23)	cacc c aaggtcaaatggtgg tgg (24)	c205t	Q69X
3	caatcccgcccagttgctga (25)	c aatcccgcccagttgctga tgg (26)	c376t	Q126X
4	caatcttccgttcaagacca (27)	c aatcttccgttcaagacca agg (28)	c628t	Q210X
5	caagttaaactcatcgacct (29)	c aagttaaactcatcgacct cgg (30)	c937t	Q313X
6	caatcaatcgagatccccct (31)	c aatcaatcgagatccccct cgg (32)	c1561t	Q521X
7	gtccgagccctccttgacct (33)	gtc c gagccctccttgacct agg (34)	c1591t	R531X
8	ccaatggctcgaaaccctag (35)	c c aatggctcgaaaccctag agg (36)	c1630t	Q544X
9	caatggctcgaaaccctaga (37)	c aatggctcgaaaccctaga ggg (38)	c1630t	Q544X
10	tggcgacacaaatggttctc (39)	tgg c gacacaaatggttctc cgg (40)	c1672t	R558X

X: termination codon
a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.

(3) Introduction of pknG gene modification plasmid into C. glutamicum and confirmation of genetic modification

The pknG gene modification plasmid produced in (2) was introduced into C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 strain according to the method described in Example 2 of WO 2007/013695 . After transformation, colonies were formed in LBCm 60 ppm agar medium. The colonies were inoculated into LBCm 60 ppm liquid medium and subcultured twice, diluted and colonies were formed in the LB agar medium.
The colonies grown were cultured in the LB medium, pknG gene segments were amplified by PCR using the following primers, and the sequences thereof were analyzed. As a result, it could be confirmed that a stop codon was introduced into the assumed sites.

PCR primer F atgaaggataatgaagatttcgatccagattcac (SEQ ID NO: 41)
PCR primer R gaaccaactcagtggccgc (SEQ ID NO: 42)

(4) Introduction of other pknG gene modification plasmid into C. glutamicum and confirmation of genetic modification

In addition, the other targeting sequences described in Table 6 were inserted into a targeting sequence insertion site of the modification CRISPR plasmid of the above-mentioned (2) to give a pknG gene modification plasmid, and C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 strain was transformed by a method similar to that in the above-mentioned (3) to form a colony.
The colonies grown were cultured in the LB medium, pknG gene segments were amplified by PCR using the following primers, and the sequences thereof were analyzed. When the targeting sequence of No. 2 was used, a strain in which the 203rd C was changed to T and the encoding amino acid was changed from threonine to isoleucine, even though it was not formation of a stop codon, could be obtained.

PCR primer F cagcaaccgaagctgttgcc (SEQ ID NO: 72)
PCR primer R gccatcagcaactgggcg (SEQ ID NO: 73)

Example 3 Genetic modification of Brevibacillus choshinensis (1) Production of emp gene modification plasmid

A pBIC1 plasmid usable in B. choshinensis was cleaved with restriction enzymes XhoI and HindIII, between which cleavage sites a necessary DNA fragment (about 6 kbp HindIII-XhoI fragment of the aforementioned SEQ ID NO: 18) of modification CRISPR was inserted to transform B. choshinensis to give a functionable modification CRISPR plasmid. The targeting sequences (Table 7) for modification of the emp gene (SEQ ID NO: 43 and 44) of B. choshinensis were designed, and Nos. 5, 6 and 7 therefrom were inserted into the targeting sequence insertion site (n₂₀) (8773-8792nd nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 18) of the modification CRISPR plasmid to give emp gene modification plasmid.

[Table 7]

No.	20 base targeting sequence ^a)	change on genome c (bold, underlined) changes to t ^a)	base change	amino acid change
1	agcaagtgcgcgcttccaag (45)	gatgaca ag c aagtgcgcgcttccaag cgg (46)	C364T	R122X
2	gcaagtgcgcgcttccaagc (47)	atgacaa g c aagtgcgcgcttccaagc ggg (48)	C364T	R122X
3	acaaagcgattccttgtgga (49)	tgccaaa a c aaagcgattccttgtgga cgg (50)	C454T	Q152X
4	cagcctgaagatggcgcacc (51)	catgatt c agcctgaagatggcgcacc cgg (52)	C958T	Q320X
5	aagcaggcttcgctctacga (53)	acggaaa aag c aggcttcgctctacga tgg (54)	C1228T	Q410X
6	gcaagtagagaagacaccgc (55)	atatgcc g c aagtagagaagacaccgc cgg (56)	C1294T	Q432X
7	gaccagaagtttgatctgga (57)	agaaggc gac c agaagtttgatctgga tgg (58)	C1708T	R510X

X: termination codon
a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.

(2) Introduction of emp gene modification plasmid into B. choshinensis and confirmation of genetic modification

B. choshinensis was transformed based on TAKARA Brevibacillus Expression system HB300. After transformation, colonies were formed in an MTNm 50 ppm plate. The colonies were inoculated into MTNm 50 ppm liquid medium and subcultured twice, diluted and colonies were formed in the MT plate.

Medium

MTNm plate
MT medium added with neomycin (50 ppm)
MT medium
glucose 10 g/L
Phytone peptone 10 g/L
Erlich bonito extract 5 g/L
powder yeast extract S 2 g/L
FeSO₄▪7H₂O 10 mg/L
MnSO₄▪4H₂O 10 mg/L
ZnSO₄▪7H₂O 1 mg/L
adjusted to pH 7.0

The colonies grown were cultured in the MT liquid medium, emp gene segments were amplified by PCR using the following primers, and the sequences thereof were analyzed. As a result, it could be confirmed that a modification corresponding to the introduction of stop codon could be confirmed.

PCR primer F gggacatgattcgccggttg (SEQ ID NO: 59)
PCR primer R gcgtccatcgtagtaccagatc (SEQ ID NO: 60)

(3) Introduction of other rmp gene modification plasmid into B. choshinensis and confirmation of genetic modification

In addition, the other targeting sequences described in Table 7 were inserted into a targeting sequence insertion site of the modification CRISPR plasmid of the above-mentioned (1) to give a emp gene modification plasmid, and B. choshinensis was transformed by a method similar to that in the above-mentioned (2) to form a colony.
The colonies grown were cultured in the MT liquid medium, emp gene segments were amplified by PCR using the following primers, and the sequences thereof were analyzed. When the targeting sequence of No. 3 was used, a strain in which the 454th C was changed to T and glutamine was changed to stop codon could be obtained.

PCR primer F ccggaagccatacaggtaagatc (SEQ ID NO: 74)
PCR primer R cctgagtcgacatcaatcacgttc (SEQ ID NO: 75)

From the above results, it was shown that the method of the present invention enables wide genetic modification of gram-positive bacteria without accompanying insertion, deletion or DSB of the gene.

Example 4 Genetic modification of Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum (2)

(1) Production of host for destruction of multiple genes

Using 11757/ATCC27021, which is the 11757-carrying strain produced in Example 1(2), the DNA sequence of the pta gene of the ATCC27021 strain was converted. Then, for the production of a strain having multiple destroyed genes, plasmid 11757 was removed from the obtained mutation strain R311K (932nd base G of pta gene was modified to A) and G312R (934th base G of pta gene was modified to A).

Method

Using 11757/ATCC27021, which is the 11757-carrying strain produced in Example 1(2), conversion of DNA sequence and sequence analysis of the pta gene was performed by a method similar to that in Example 1(3). The mutation strain R311K (932nd base G of pta gene was modified to A) and G312R (934th base G of pta gene was modified to A) obtained as a result of the sequence analysis were cultured in a TYA medium free of antibiotics and dilution applied to a solid medium. Using the single colony grown therein as a template, the presence or absence of the plasmid retention was confirmed by the method shown in Example 1(2) and colonies free of an amplification product of the region peculiar to the plasmid were selected.

PCR composition (for one sample)
2×KODFX buffer 25 µL
2 mM dNTPS 10 µL
20 µM F primer 0.75 µL (NS-150410-i01)
20 µM R primer 0.75 µL (NS-150410-i02)
D.W. 11.5 µL
KODFX 1 µL

sequence of NS-150410-i01 5'-CCGATAGCTAAGCCTATTGAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 61)
sequence of NS-150410-i02 5'-TCATCCTGTGGAGCTTAGTAG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 62)

Results

The obtained PCR products were electrophoresed and colonies derived from respective mutated strain (R311K and G312R) and free of an amplification product of the region peculiar to the plasmid were used respectively used as 11757 fall off strains, ATCC 27021R311K and ATCC 27021G312R.

Four kinds of ptb1 vector plasmids for disruption 64G>A, 655G>A, 442C>T and 745G>A in which the targeting sequence portion [n₂₀ portion (nucleotide No. 5560-5579) of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4; corresponding to "Target" in Fig. 1] of the vector plasmid for disruption produced in Example 1(1) was substituted by a sequence complementary to each target nucleotide sequence in the ptb1 gene (SEQ ID NO: 63 and 64) of C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum, were constructed. The targeting sequences and the like of these vector plasmids for disruption are shown in Table 8.

[Table 8]

Outline of vector plasmids for disruption 64G>A, 442C>T, 655G>A, 745G>A
vector for disruption	targeting sequence ^a) (bold underline shows introduction site of mutation)	position of target nucleotide sequence in ptb1 gene	main position of mutation introduction
64G>A	g cc a c tgccactttctttgt (65)	49-68 of ptb1^b)	64G>A, 66G>A, 67G>A
442C>T	cc agaattaaaggataaagt (66)	442-461 of ptb1	442C>T, 443C>T
655G>A	attgcattatctaaagcaaa (67)	640-659 of ptb1	655G>A
745G>A	acatttgctgtttctatatt (68)	733-752 of ptb1	745G>A, 751G>A

a) number in parenthesis shows SEQ ID NO.
b) see SEQ ID NO: 63 for nucleotide sequence of ptb1 gene

In 64G>A, mutation of 64G>A and/or 66G>A and/or 67G>A was introduced into the target gene ptb1, and mutation of V22I or V22 and/or A23T was introduced at the amino acid level. 442C>T is a vector for disruption that mutates P148 to L or S. It is known that proline is an imino acid, which locally decreases the degree of freedom of protein. When it is changed to leucine, retention of the structure becomes difficult and reduction or loss of activity is expected. 655G>A is a vector for disruption that mutates A219 to T, 745G>A mutates A249 to T. Mutation of nonpolar alanine having a small side chain to polar threonine having a bulky side chain changes the structure of PTB1 protein and is expected to reduce or eliminate the activity. 745G>A can also introduce mutation into 751G>A (V251 to I).

Method

C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum ATCC 27021 strain, and ATCC 27021R311K and ATCC 27021G312 strain produced in the above-mentioned (1) were transformed with the above-mentioned ptb1 vector plasmid for disruption 64G>A, 442C>T, 655G>A or 745G>A. Introduction of the vector plasmid for disruption and plasmid maintenance were confirmed by the method shown in Example 1(2).

Results

As a result of the plasmid maintenance confirmation PCR using the obtained strain as templates, amplification products in the region peculiar to the plasmid were obtained in all hosts, and they were confirmed to be transformants.

(3) C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum ptb1 gene sequence conversion using vector plasmid for disruption

Using the vector plasmid for disruption, the DNA sequence of the ptb1 gene of butanol fermentation bacterium was converted. Since vector plasmid for disruption does not have a control mechanism in the destructive tool, it functions by simply forming generations.

Method

The 64G>A/ATCC 27021 strain as 64G>A-carrying strain, 442C>T/ATCC 27021 strain, 442C>T/ATCC 27021R311K strain and 442C>T/ATCC 27021G312 strain as 64G>A/ATCC 27021R312K strain and 64G>A/ATCC 27021G312 strain, 442C>T-carrying strain, 655G>A/ATCC 27021 strain as 655G>A-carrying strain, and 745G>A/ATCC 27021 strain, 745G>A/ATCC 27021R311K strain and 745G>A/ATCC 27021G312R strain as 655G>A/ATCC 27021R311K strain and 655G>A/ATCC 27021G312R strain, 745G>A-carrying strain, which were produced in the above-mentioned (2), were inoculated and cultured in TYA medium containing erythromycin (10 ppm), and dilution applied to TYA solid medium containing erythromycin (10 ppm) to give a single colony. The single colonies were picked and, using them as the templates, the full-length ptb1 gene on the genome was amplified.
The PCR composition and conditions followed those in Example 1(3) except that the primers used were NS-150819-i01 and NS-150819-i02 for ptb1.

sequence of NS-150819-i01 5'-GCAAGAAATGAGCAAAAACTTTGACG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 69)
sequence of NS-150819-i02 5'-GCTGCAACTAATGCTGCTAAAGC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 70)

Then, the PCR product was purified by Wizard (registered trade mark) SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System, and a sequence reaction was performed using the purified product as the template.
The PCR composition and conditions followed those in Example 1(3) except that the primer used was NS-150819-i01 (SEQ ID NO: 69) for the 64G>A-carrying strain and NS-150324-i01 for others.
sequence of NS-150324-i01 5'-CTCTGACTGTGCAGTTAACC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 71)

Results

As a result of the sequence analysis of the colonies derived from the 64G>A-carrying strain, a strain showing introduction of mutation of 64G>A and/or 67G>A in the ptb1 gene was obtained. A strain that became V22I and/or A23T as PTB1 protein by the mutation of 64G>A and/or 67G>A was obtained. a strain showing introduction of V22M mutation was not found in the analysis at this time. As a result of the sequence analysis of the colonies derived from the 442C>T-carrying strain, a strain showing introduction of mutation into 442C>T and/or 443C>T was obtained. By the mutation of 442C>T and/or 443C>T, a strain having P148L or P148S as PTB1 protein was obtained. As a result of the sequence analysis of the colonies derived from the 655G>A-carrying strain was obtained. By the mutation of 655G>A, a strain having A219T as PTB1 protein was obtained. As a result of the sequence analysis of the colonies derived from the 745G>A-carrying strain, a strain showing introduction of mutation into 745G>A and/or 751G>A was obtained. By the mutation of 745G>A and/or 751G>A, a strain having A249T and/or V251I as PTB1 protein was obtained.

[Industrial Applicability]

The present invention makes it possible to safely introduce site specific mutation into any gram-positive bacteria without accompanying insertion of a foreign DNA or double-stranded DNA breaks. Since the thus-obtained genetically modified strain is considered to not fall under a gene recombinant microorganism, reduction of the facility costs and waste disposal cost can be expected in industrial fermentative production using gram-positive bacteria, and the strain is extremely useful in that it enables reduction of the production costs.
This application is based on a patent application No. 2015-178022 filed in Japan (filing date: September 9, 2015 ).

Claims

A method of modifying a targeted site in a double stranded DNA of a gram-positive bacterium, comprising a step of contacting a complex wherein a nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module that specifically binds to a target nucleotide sequence in a given double stranded DNA and Petromyzon marinus cytidine deaminase 1 (PmCDA1) are bonded, with said double stranded DNA, to convert one or more nucleotides in the targeted site to other one or more nucleotides, without cleaving at least one strand of said double stranded DNA in the target site, wherein the double stranded DNA is contacted with the complex by introducing the nucleic acid encoding the complex into the gram-positive bacterium,
wherein the gram-positive bacterium is a microorganism belonging to the genus Clostridium, the genus Brevibacillus or the genus Corynebacterium, and

wherein the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module is a CRISPR-Cas system and wherein the Cas is a mutant Cas in which both DNA cleavage abilities of Cas are inactivated.
The method according to claim 1, which uses two or more kinds of nucleic acid sequence-recognizing modules respectively specifically binding to different target nucleotide sequences.
The method according to claim 2, wherein said different target nucleotide sequence is present in a different gene.
The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Clostridium is Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum.
The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Brevibacillus is Brevibacillus choshinensis.
The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium is Corynebacterium glutamicum.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a step of introducing an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding said complex in a form permitting control of an expression period into said gram-positive bacterium, and a step of inducing expression of the nucleic acid for a period necessary for fixing the modification of the targeted site in the double stranded DNA.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the nucleic acid sequence-recognizing module is fused with PmCDA1.